Chiari Awareness Month

WHEREAS, Chiari Malformation (CM) is a neurological disorder characterized by defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance; and

WHEREAS, CM is categorized by how severely parts of the brain protrude into the spinal canal: CM types I, II, III, and IV; and

WHEREAS, symptoms usually appear during adolescence or early adulthood and can include severe head and neck pain, vertigo, muscle weakness, balance problems, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, and sleep apnea; and

WHEREAS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health is conducting research to find alternative surgical options and identify the causes of CM to improve treatment and prevention plans; and

WHEREAS, Chiari Awareness Month is an opportunity to increase awareness of and support research for CM;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terence R. McAuliffe, do hereby recognize September 2014 as CHIARI AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.